Giants lose to White Sox in 10 innings

SAN FRANCISCO -- As if their road trip wasn't bad enough, the Giants returned home Tuesday night to find Chris Sale in their yard.

And even after they chased him away, it only delayed the frustration.

Gordon Beckham helped force extra innings with a sensational defensive play in the bottom of the ninth and then singled home the winner in the 10th, propelling the Chicago White Sox to a 3-2 victory at AT&T Park.

It sent the Giants to a fifth consecutive defeat and dropped them a season-worst six games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League West.

"It's a tough one for these guys because they battled well," manager Bruce Bochy said. "They had their hands full with Sale -- he's as tough as any pitcher in the game -- but they came on strong out there. We could use a break."

The Giants briefly thrilled the home crowd by rallying for two runs in the bottom of the ninth against the White Sox bullpen. Brandon Crawford drove home the tying run with two outs against reliever Jake Petricka.

But can you credit a second baseman for a save? With the bases loaded and nobody out, Joe Panik scalded a ball up the middle. That's where Beckham dived for the ball, caught it and flipped it straight from his glove to shortstop Alexei Ramirez to start a 6-4-3 double play.

A run scored on the play, making it 2-1, but it dampened the Giants' chances of a walk-off victory.

"That was one of the best double plays I've ever seen, especially considering the situation," Giants outfielder Hunter Pence said. "It looked like a hit off the bat, and for him to lay out and turn two out of it was a pretty crazy play."

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The Giants have lost 13 of their past 18 games. And even McCovey Cove, their traditional safe haven, is no longer immune. San Francisco is 7-22 here since June 9, the worst home winning percentage in the majors during that span.

Sale was the big hurdle this time, striking out 12 over eight shutout innings as he lowered his ERA to 2.01. He struck out every Giants starter at least once except for Buster Posey, who nevertheless went 0 for 4 against him.

Ryan Vogelsong did his part to keep the Giants within range. The right-hander allowed two runs over seven innings and got stronger as the game went on. Vogelsong has allowed only four earned runs over his past 22 innings.

His only mistake Tuesday was surrendering a two-run home run to Adam Dunn in the first inning.

"I got away with a couple. I didn't get away with the pitch to Dunn," Vogelsong said. "I felt like I got my act together after that."

This was the fifth consecutive start at home in which Vogelsong has received zero runs of support while in the game.

The Giants had a couple of chances against Sale but squandered them. One came in the first inning, when Pence tripled to right center with one out. When Posey followed with a ground ball to shortstop, Pence hesitated before bolting for home.

Pence said he got a bad read and waited too long to make his move. But he dismissed the suggestion that a bat in the baseline altered his route.

"I had to dodge the bat, but I don't know if that was necessarily a factor, because that's the way I was going to go anyway to get away from the tag," Pence said.

The Giants threatened again in the seventh, when Adam Duvall (single) and Crawford (walk) put runners at first and second with two outs. But pinch hitter Joaquin Arias, who was hitting .197 with a .224 on-base percentage, popped out to end the rally.

Matt Cain's right-elbow surgery Monday went just fine, Bochy said. The projected timetable for the pitcher's recovery remains at three months, which would put the three-time All-Star on track for spring training.

The Giants honored Robin Williams throughout the night, playing video clips of the actor's finest moments and holding a pregame moment of silence. Players from both dugouts came onto field and removed their caps. Williams, who died of an apparent suicide Monday, was a Giants fan and occasional visitor to AT&T Park.

Brandon Belt remains on the seven-day concussion list despite being eligible to come off on Saturday. The first baseman's status is considered day to day.

In honor of Jerry Garcia Night, two members of the Grateful Dead -- Bill Kreutzmann and Mickey Hart -- threw out the ceremonial first pitch.